FoodSci: Indian Journal of Research in Food Science and Nutrition

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access

Prevalence of Menstrual Disorders and Menstrual Hygiene among School Going Adolescent Girls in Central Kerala


Affiliations
1 Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Vellalar College for Women, Erode – 638012, Tamil Nadu, India
 

The present study was carried out in selected schools of Pathanamthitta district, central Kerala to assess the prevalence of menstrual disorders and status of menstrual hygiene among school going adolescent girls. A total of 821 school going adolescent girls (aged 10-19 years) from both urban and rural areas were screened, out of which 670 had onset of menstruation. The data was collected from all 670 eligible participants using a semi-structured questionnaire. The questionnaire included information on age of attaining menstruation (menarche), menstrual hygiene and socio demographic variables. The mean age of onset of menarche was 12.28 (SD±1.03) years. Irregular menstrual disorder was observed in 34% (n = 228) of the studied subjects. Problems associated with menstruation observed among the subjects were polymenorrhea, oligomenorrhea, hypomenorrhea and menorrhagia. Among all the studied subjects, 99.7% (668) were using sanitary pads. As far disposal of pads was concerned, 77.25% (n = 516) disposed their pads by burning, 17.06% (n = 114) flush the used pads in toilets and 1.19% (n=8) respondents were throwing the pads outside in open and others were 4.49% (n = 30).

Keywords

Adolescent Girls, Menstrual Hygiene, Menstrual Problems, Pathanamthitta District, Central Kerala.
User
Notifications
Font Size


  • Dua T. Coming of age: Adolescent health mental health expert opinion adolescents aiming for healthy future. WHO. 2018.

  • Meier PR, Nickerson HJ, Olson KA, Berg RL, Meyer JA. Prevention of iron deficiency anemia in adolescent and adult pregnancies. Clinical Med Research. 2003 Jan ;1(1):29–36. PMid: 15931282 PMCid: PMC1069018. https://doi.org/10.3121/cmr.1.1.29

  • Paul D, Gopalakrishnan S. Knowledge and practices of adolescent girls regarding reproductive health with special emphasis on hygiene during menstruation, an ICMR funded research project. National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child-development; 2007. p. 1–98.

  • Bieniasz J, Zak T, Laskowska-Zietek A, NoczyńskaA.Causes of menstrual disorders in adolescent girls a retrospective study. Middle East Fertility Society Journal. 2006; 11:1–17.

  • Flug D, Largo RH, Prader A. Menstrual patterns in adolescents in Swiss girls: A Longitudinal study. Annals of Human Biology.1984; 11(6):495–508. PMid: 6524865. https://doi.org/10.1080/03014468400007411

  • Raveendran RC, Jacob AM, Ismail J. A delve into the menstrual problems in teenagers: A cross sectional study in an urban school in Kerala. India International Journal of Reproduction, Contraception, Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2016 Nov; 5(11):3978–82. https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20163874

  • Abdella, NHA, Nasr Abd-Elhalim EHN, Attia AMF. The Body Mass Index and menstrual problems among adolescent students: IOSR Journal of Nursing and Health Science. 2016; 5(4): 13–21. https://doi.org/10.9790/1959-0504021321

  • Cakir M, Mungan I, Karakas T, Girisken I, Okten A. Menstrual pattern and common menstrual disorders among university students in Turkey. Pediatr Int. 2007; 49:938–42. PMid: 18045301. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-200X.2007.02489.x

  • Singh A, Kiran D, Singh H, Nel B, Singh P, Tiwari P, et al. Prevalence and severity of dysmenorrhea: A problem related to menstruation, among first and second year female medical students. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2008; 52:389–97.

  • Thomas F, Renaud F, Benefice E, de Meeus T, Guegan JF. International variability of ages at menarche and menopause: Patterns and main determinants. Hum Biol. 2001; 73:271–90. PMid: 11446429. https://doi.org/10.1353/hub.2001.0029

  • Sinha S, Srivastava JP, Sachan B, Singh RB. A study of menstrual of menstrual pattern and prevelance of Dysmenorrhea during menstruation among school going adolescent girls in Lucknow district, Utter Pradesh, India. International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health. 2016 May; 3(5):1200–3. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20161384

  • Sachan B, Idris MZ, Jain S, Kumari R, Singh A. Age at menarche and menstrual problems among school-going adolescent girls of a North Indian district. Journal of Basic and Clinical Reproductive Sciences. 2012; 1(1):56–9. https://doi.org/10.4103/2278-960X.104298

  • Bachmann GA, Kemmann E. Prevalence of oligomenorrhea and amenorrhea in a college population. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 1982; 144(1):09–102. DOI. 10.1016/0002-9378(82)90402-1

  • Hickey M, Balen A. Menstrual disorders in adolescence: Investigation and management. Hum Reproduction Update. 2003; 9(5):493–504. PMid: 14640381. https://doi.org/10.1093/humupd/dmg038

  • Rigon F, De Sanctis V, Bernasconi S, Bianchin L, Bona G, Bozzola M, Buzi F, Radetti G, Tato L, Tonini G, De Sanctis C, Perissinotto E. Menstrual pattern and menstrual disorders among adolescents: An update of the Italian datasss. 2012; 38:38. PMid: 22892329 PMCid: PMC3462713. doi: 10.1186/1824-7288-38-38


Abstract Views: 546

PDF Views: 329




  • Prevalence of Menstrual Disorders and Menstrual Hygiene among School Going Adolescent Girls in Central Kerala

Abstract Views: 546  |  PDF Views: 329

Authors

Lucy George
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Vellalar College for Women, Erode – 638012, Tamil Nadu, India
N. Sabitha
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Vellalar College for Women, Erode – 638012, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract


The present study was carried out in selected schools of Pathanamthitta district, central Kerala to assess the prevalence of menstrual disorders and status of menstrual hygiene among school going adolescent girls. A total of 821 school going adolescent girls (aged 10-19 years) from both urban and rural areas were screened, out of which 670 had onset of menstruation. The data was collected from all 670 eligible participants using a semi-structured questionnaire. The questionnaire included information on age of attaining menstruation (menarche), menstrual hygiene and socio demographic variables. The mean age of onset of menarche was 12.28 (SD±1.03) years. Irregular menstrual disorder was observed in 34% (n = 228) of the studied subjects. Problems associated with menstruation observed among the subjects were polymenorrhea, oligomenorrhea, hypomenorrhea and menorrhagia. Among all the studied subjects, 99.7% (668) were using sanitary pads. As far disposal of pads was concerned, 77.25% (n = 516) disposed their pads by burning, 17.06% (n = 114) flush the used pads in toilets and 1.19% (n=8) respondents were throwing the pads outside in open and others were 4.49% (n = 30).

Keywords


Adolescent Girls, Menstrual Hygiene, Menstrual Problems, Pathanamthitta District, Central Kerala.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.15613/fijrfn%2F2019%2Fv6i2%2F190524